Following the sin of the Golden Calf, a renewed covenant is forged between God and the children of Israel. The commandments that appear after this covenant are identical to those given after the first covenant at Mount Sinai. The significance of this is that even after committing a very severe transgression, there is a chance for complete forgiveness, to change one's direction in life and to reach a higher plane.
The list of commandments that appear immediately after the covenant is renewed between God and the children of Israel seems to be a haphazard collection of commandments: the prohibition to forge a covenant with the nations who dwell in the land of Canaan, the three Pilgrimage Festivals, the laws of the firstborn, Shabbat, entrance to the Tabernacle, two details in the laws of the Pascal sacrifice, the laws dealing with the first fruits of the new crop and the prohibition to eat meat and milk together. One could easily claim that there is no connection between these commandments and the renewed covenant. However, in the following section, Moshe commands: "Inscribe these words for yourself, for according to these words I have formed a covenant with you and with Israel." (34:27). This is the story of the new covenant which has replaced the old one.
In fact, this list is almost identical to the list appearing at the end of Mishpatim, before Moshe wrote the first covenant (23:13-19). He is now ascending once again in order to receive the second set of tablets which will replace the first one. The fact that Moshe is given the same set of commandments that he had previously been given reflects Hazal's insight at the beginning of the Thirteen Attributes of Mercy: "LORD, LORD (the Tetragrammaton - God's name - is repeated twice) - I am He before man sins; I am He after man sins." There is a possibility for complete forgiveness.
The content of the commandments is identical both before and after the sin of the Golden Calf. It appears that everything has returned to the previous state of affairs. However, there are major changes in the world after the sin of the Golden Calf and in the nation that has been sullied by sin. And yet despite the fact that the people had been sullied by the sin, this doesn't prevent the option of Divine Presence dwelling amongst them. There is always a chance for change and there is an option for renewed growth.
Adapted by HaTanakh.com Staff. Find the Hebrew link here.